Factory-farmed dairy cows are given rBGH (human growth hormone) to increase milk production. Side effect: mastitis, a condition that is not only painful but causes cows to pump out bacteria and pus. The cows are treated with antibiotics, which a recent Stanford University study shows may actually be further spreading Salmonella. Never mind all the other health issues from antibiotics.

Factory-farmed dairy cows are fed grains – which their digestive system is not equipped to manage. When cows eat grains instead of their natural diet of grass, it leads to a more acidic digestive environment, which makes them more vulnerable to E. coli food poisoning and bacterial growth. They lack the nutrients that grass-fed cows get from their natural diet and sun exposure, including the super nutrient CLA, a beneficial fatty acid that has been found to lower risk of heart attack, promote lean muscle and decreased body fat, and even prevent cancer.

Grass-fed cows also have higher concentrations of Omega 3, vitamins A, D, and B-12, calcium, and other vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and enzymes. Because of the natural enzymatic activity, many people who are “lactose-intolerant” are able to enjoy raw, grass-fed dairy whereas processed dairy, which has been stripped of these vital nutrients and enzymes, wreaks havoc on their digestive system.